Pakistan blocks UK offer of military aid for flood victims

Pakistan's intelligence agency has blocked a UK offer of military aid for flood victims amid a row that is threatening to overshadow Nick Clegg's visit to the country.

Flood survivors use a camel cart to reach areas in Taunsa near Dera Ghazi Khan in PakistanPhoto: AP

By Rob Crilly in Islamabad and James Kirkup

5:59PM BST 31 Aug 2010

The Deputy Prime Minister will on Wednesday visit Pakistan, the most senior Coalition minister to do so since David Cameron angered the country's government by suggesting it turned a blind eye to some forms of terrorism.

The Daily Telegraph has learned that as part of the continuing spat over the Prime Minister's remarks, Pakistan's intelligence agency has blocked an offer of British military aid for millions of flood victims. RAF planes have flown emergency aid supplies into Pakistan, but sources in Islamabad and London have confirmed that the Inter Services Intelligence agency has blocked any role for British forces on the ground in the country.

The Ministry of Defence offered to send teams to help distribute aid to the 17 million people affected by weeks of monsoon rains. It is understood the offer included logistics support and medical personnel. Sources said the UK had made an "open-ended" offer of assistance.

More than a million homes were destroyed by flood waters that have left behind a desperate humanitarian emergency in Pakistan. Some 800,000 people are still beyond the reach of aid agencies.

The United Nations has appealed repeatedly for more helicopters to help ferry food, clean water and medicine to villages unreachable by road.

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Australia, Japan and Afghanistan have all sent military helicopters or doctors.

Even the US – viewed with hostility by many Pakistanis for its war on terror – has 300 servicemen on the ground, running 15 Navy and Marine heavy lift helicopters in the country and four cargo planes. But no British personnel are operating in the affected areas because of Pakistani anger at Mr Cameron's comments.

Visiting India in July, Mr Cameron suggested that Pakistan has a tendency "to look both ways" on the promotion of terrorism in countries including Afghanistan and India. The remarks outraged the Pakistani military establishment and a diplomatic source confirmed that Pakistan had refused any involvement by the British military.

"Britain is hopping mad about it and hopes the aid will still be accepted but at the moment neither side can talk about it as it is deeply embarrassing for both," the person said.

A Pakistani intelligence source said the offer has been declined because of Mr Cameron's statement in India and apparent support for India against Pakistan interests.

The person said: "Pakistan has refused the assistance offered by the British administration and it's a ... way to send a message to the international community that if you are a friend of my enemy then you are also my enemy."

A British government spokesman confirmed there has been "no specific offer, or request" from the government of Pakistan, to put UK troops on the ground in the disaster zone.

He added: "However, the MOD, at DFID's request, has provided air support using both C17, the RAF's largest transport aircraft, and C130 Hercules planes to bring in essential items such as tents and shelter kits. To date the RAF has flown in five plane loads of essential aid from both DFID and UN stores."